Chicago Man Charged in Assault, Robbery of Suburban Postal Carriers

(jetcityimage / iStock)(jetcityimage / iStock)

A Chicago man is facing federal charges after he allegedly assaulted and robbed a pair of suburban letter carriers late last year.

Devan Flax, 21, faces a nine-count indictment including assault, robbery and firearm charges in the suburban Forest Park incidents from November 2023. He’s also charged in connection with the robbery of a Berwyn pizzeria employee that same month.

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

“This indictment is another example of the roles Postal Inspectors and our law enforcement partners play in protecting Postal Service employees and customers,” Ruth Mendonça, inspector-in-charge of the Chicago Division of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said in a statement. “As Postal Service employees continue to play an integral role in our communities, we are clear in our resolve to aggressively investigate anyone who brings harm to these invaluable public servants.”

According to the indictment, Flax assaulted and robbed the letter carriers on Nov. 25 and Nov. 28 and took from them a U.S. Postal Service key used to unlock various mailboxes.

The Berwyn robbery allegedly occurred Nov. 26.

Earlier this month, local postal carriers called for additional protections.

“We’re under attack,” said Elise Foster, a letter carrier who is president of the Chicago 11 branch of the National Association of Letter Carriers. “We need someone to do something about it.”

Spencer Block, a spokesman with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, said he understands that employees want to be safe on the job, and that actions taken by the agency through its Project Safe Delivery program are helping.

Block said robberies of carriers in Chicago’s region — which covers Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of Missouri — dropped to 31 for the fiscal year that ended Monday, down from 103 in the 2023 fiscal year.

Federal prosecutors said Flax is currently in custody and pleaded not guilty in Chicago last week. He’s due back in court Nov. 20.

“U.S. Postal Service employees delivering mail to the American people must be allowed to do so safely and securely,” Morris Pasqual, acting U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, said in a statement. “Individuals who use violence against postal carriers to gain access to the public’s mail must be held accountable.”

Amanda Vinicky contributed to this report.


Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors

Thanks to our sponsors:

View all sponsors